Teeny lays no claim on the Charmed Ones, but this story is her’s!

Prue – 14
Piper – 12
Phoebe – 8


Phoebe’s big brown eyes starred down the long hallway. She wasn’t going to admit to anyone that she was scared. So she didn’t so it, not at all. She knew, even though as hard as she tried to hide it, her sisters knew she was scared. They knew very well. What she was going to do was supposed to be grateful that she was chosen, but still she was scared.

Her third grade class had been learning a little bit about World War II, and they had to write an essay about their point of view. However their teacher Mrs. Halgraham didn’t mention that the best one got to go meet a veteran from the war and spend a couple months with him. But they all knew it was mostly because their teacher’s husband worked at the Veteran’s Home and they needed more company. But Phoebe was chosen. Grams had told her that she should be flattered. The only reason Phoebe won was because she was winning everything in grade school. There was no doubt that Phoebe Halliwell took after her sisters, she was very smart. But what was slowly progressing, was that Phoebe hated being like the crowd; Phoebe would soon do everything a different way and try to maintain her grades. But her unique way may bring down her average.

Phoebe walked down the hall slowly. Mr. Halgraham said that he lived in the third to last door on the right, number 406. Phoebe got to 406 and just starred at it for a little while. She was mostly thinking, she did that a lot when she was nervous. She was thinking about how outraged her eldest sister, Prue would be when she found out they sent her down the hall alone. She would just leave that out.

Finally she knocked on the door. She could hear movement in the background. The door opened. There stood a man. He looked old, but not too. She knew he was 65, she had done the math. had wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, Phoebe guessed from smiling, or thinking, you know when you weave your eyebrows together. He had a receding hair line, but still had most of his hair. She couldn’t tell what it color it was but it she knew his eyes were blue. She didn’t know what it was about those blue eyes but she knew she felt comfort in them. The man looked at her, the young large brown cheerful eyes. He could see her curiosity, her love. Something different.

He motioned for her to come in. Phoebe came. He close the door behind her. She immediately that there was an old yellow lab in the living room. She bent down to pet it, it welcomed her with open arms. The old man sat in the rocking chair.

“That’s Baby . . . and . . .” he introduced and he got up and went toward what looked like a closet. And he opened it inside was pretty big. There was a little baby gate in the door. Phoebe saw through the door: a puppy. “And this little guy is Leo.”

He held out the pup for her to hold. Phoebe took him. She watched as he sat back down. To her surprise he spook.

“So, you’re Phoebe Halliwell. Any relation to Penny?” He was acting very solemn not showing much emotion. He had known Penny because his family used to baby-sit her.

“She’s my grams.” Surprisingly he smiled, it was warm and welcome. Now he knew where she got it, the umph that only the Halliwells had. He held out his hand.

“I’m Edgar, Eddie for short. Edgar Wyatt.”

It didn’t take very long for the two to start talking. Phoebe like him a lot. However, being eight, she was quite observant. With Leo in her lab, she glanced around the room. There were pictures one the mantel and wall. A couple group but mostly two people, a young woman and a young man. Phoebe set Leo on the floor and walked over to look. Eddie watched as she did. He knew he would have to answer questions soon. Phoebe pointed to one of the pictures of the young man.

“Who’s this?” she asked innocently, not really intending to offend anyone. She watched as Eddie looked at his hand. Your going to have to talk to someone soon, why not this little girl? he asked himself. He stood up and walked next to her. For the first time Phoebe noticed that he walked with a cane.

“That, my dear, is my little brother. Dr. Leonardo Wyatt, we called him Leo for short. He was very smart for his age,” Eddie explained. He motioned for Phoebe to sit down. She knew this is where the story began.

“ He had just opened a practice when the war began.” Eddie cleared his throat and went on. “I was a pilot then also. SO both of us registered. My girl, Susie, became a nurse. The two worked together. Leo was the most committed person. Her always let his heart get in the way of his job. He would always have a soft spot for his patients. It was near the end of the war when I was up in the air, and I shot down all of the enemy planes, except I didn’t see one. I was almost back to the runway when he shot me down. It didn’t take very long for people down below shot him down to the ocean. Lucky for me I landed in the filed. And I left with a broken leg, that unfortunately has never healed. When the war was over I found out that Leo and Susie had been transferred to another place than I was. But to my surprise it had been torpedoed. It took a great deal of time to sink in. My little brother was dead. I assumed that Susie had died. One day I went to a coffee shop that I went to every day, and there was Susie, waiting. At first I didn’t believe my eyes but there she was. Soon after I found out that Leo had seen the plane coming and almost everyone out, He told everyone to run. But not everyone made it. It was only the first half of the runners made it. Leo of course was in the last half. AT least he died a hero.”

Eddie was now close to tears. This was the first time that he had ever shared this story. But Phoebe soon discovered there was more.

“Susie died a couple years ago of a stroke.”

Phoebe felt really bad for him.

“I bet they helped a lot of people.”

Little did they know that they were still helping people, but in their own way.

Phoebe was about to say something else, when someone came in through the door. It was Prue. She had come with Grams to pick Phoebe up.

“Hey, kiddo. You ready?”

“Bye, Eddie,” she gave him a hug. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Dimples.”

The two sisters left and went down the hall. Prue looked at her. There was something different.

“Dimples?”

But Phoebe didn’t answer. Grams had told both Prue and Piper that Phoebe might be a little quiet, because Ed probably told her about the war. Mr. Halgraham had needed Eddie to talk to someone, he had never talked to anyone. It was obvious that it was tearing him apart. Penny new that Phoebe was “the key to any lock” or at least that was what Patty predicted. She knew Phoebe was a little young to hear about the war and she fought it at first with Patty but soon she convinced her that this is a small piece of clay that will slowly form the Phoebe she will grow up to be.

Prue sympathetically looked at Phoebe. She picked her up and she welcomed it. soon she could hear Phoebe snuffle. He had definitely told her about the war.

Phoebe was quiet throughout dinner. She was thinking they could tell. Right after dinner she ran to her room. Piper was curious at what she did, she was a little worried. But before she went to see her, she and Prue helped clean up.

“I can’t believe you let her go!” Prue exclaimed.

“Prudence, keep your voice down.”

“This kind of assignment is something I would get in my class! It’s outrageous that she would get it in third grade. Third grade!”

“Prudence! That’s is enough!” Grams turned her voice down. “We need to be gentle with her. Treat her like nothing happened.”

“Grams,” Piper said gently. “but something did happen. An eight year old was introduced to the reality of war. WE can’t ignore it. I think we should encourage her to talk to us about it. That’s how Phoebe gets over stuff, she talks.”

Grams kissed Piper on the forehead.

“That’s my girls. Always thinking about each other.”


Piper went upstairs. She found Phoebe, with her clipboard. She let it go. She sat on the bed and watched her sister write stuff down. But finally Phoebe stopped and looked at Piper.

“Why do people fight?”

Piper looked at Phoebe. How the heck was she supposed to answer it. Phoebe went on.

“They don’t fix their problem, they just kill people. Why do they do it Piper?”

Piper looked at her innocent baby sister, why do they do it?

Piper looked at her baby sister. She picked her up, sat down and set her in her lap, on Phoebe’s bed. She rested her chin on the top of her head. Phoebe sat patiently waiting for an answer to a question, that had been asked forever. But she knew no one could answer it like Piper would.

“Well, Pheebs,” Piper began. “ People in this world, fight for many reason. Most of them not that smart. You see Phoebe, some people think the only way to solve their problems is to fight. Solutions to things in our country is sometimes fighting, like war. Do you know why we entered, I mean got into, World War II?”

“What do you mean ‘got into’?” Phoebe asked.

“Well, do you know how someone’s fighting and how a lot of people just watch.”

“Uh, huh.”

“Well, at first we were those people. But then it was like someone hit an innocent watcher, who was our friend. This got us mad so we joined the fight. Get it?”

“Oh, I see. How do wars end?”

“Well, my class hasn’t gotten to that part yet. But I guess we can go back to the fight. Well, the war ended, when we, the United States, and our allies, or friends, basically, started getting into our enemies’ territory, their land. Eventually we got a lot of their land. They finally surrendered. So the teacher kinda came into the fight and broke it up. So, we won. But at the expense of the deaths of thousands of American men. And probably the same or more, of our enemies’ men died.”

“Did we send them a sorry card?”

“Well, our country gave many of the soldiers badges. If they got injured, they got a different badge called a Purple Heart and---’’

“No, Pip. I mean did we ever send our enemies something. Telling them we’re sorry. They’re human too, right? Their were sad families over there because their son died.”

Piper looked at Phoebe she had never thought of it that way. I had never occurred to her that there were people just like her across the world grieving a loss, just like her teacher’s family who lost someone in the war a long time ago. Now, Piper knew. Piper knew what she would write about for her paper. She’s going to write about how little kids look at the war.

“C’mon Phoebe. You can hang out with me and Prue tonight.” Piper set Phoebe on the back and stood up. She motioned for Phoebe to get on her back. Phoebe climbed on. The Halliwell sisters were all very small for their age. Especially Phoebe.

They went down the hall and downstairs.

As the two got to the bottom of the stairs, Phoebe motioned for Piper to go to the kitchen. Piper set Phoebe down on the table. She sat there for a little while just swinging her legs, and thinking, Piper guessed. Then Piper saw it in her eyes. She saw Phoebe thinking things in her eyes.

“Your up to something. Aren’t you Phoebe?”

Phoebe’s big brown eyes stared into Piper’s. Basically they said. Yes I am, but it’s my secret.

“Okay, Pheebs I’ll stay out of it. Do you still want to hang out with me and Prue, because if you do we —’’

“I want you to help me Piper.”

Piper looked at Phoebe.

“ Okay what do you me to help you with?”

Phoebe whispered into Piper’s ear.

The rest of the night the two worked. Well, . . . sort of. They made part of them on the computer and the rest by hand. They were almost done. All they need were the names and address. Piper went on the internet. People then may have said it would never last, but after Piper used it for information. She thought it was quite handy and she would definitely use it in the future. She was right.

The next day the two of them went the stationary store and bought a big box of envelopes. Next they went to the post office and got two of the biggest rolls of stamps. Then they road home.

Later that day when Prue came home from her Saturday practice. She watched curiously he sisters and their little assembly line. Piper would write a name on this thing that looked something like a certificate, and then write something on an envelope and give it to Phoebe. Phoebe would then seal the envelope and put a stamp on it. Prue could tell they were almost finished. SO she just stood and watched. She set her duffle down on the floor. Mostly to try to get their attention. It didn’t work. Piper wrote the thing on the last envelope and gave it to Phoebe. They were done. A whole Saturday dedicate to something important.

“What’s going on?” Prue asked as Phoebe and Piper carried to couple boxes filled with at least one hundred packed envelopes. “How many are there?”

“One hundred-sixty,” Phoebe informed. Prue quietly mocked her as she was passed in her snooty voice.

Piper shoot her a the ‘look.’

“What’s it for?” Prue asked, changing her mood.

“You’ll see,” Piper said with a smile.

Later that day they brought the letters to the post office and they were shipped out.


A few day later, early the next morning Prue got up early. Grams was out, again. I wonder what she does all the time, Prue wondered. She looked over at a sleeping Piper. Neither of them had said anything about the day the sent out the letters. She got up quietly, slipped on her robe and slippers. She went down to Phoebe’s room after she silently closed the door. Phoebe’s room was furthest away. Prue didn’t see why Grams Put Phoebe away from the rest of them. But for some reason Grams had said that their mother had always planned to put Phoebe in that room. Phoebe chose it.

Patty had had each of the girl of the girls pick their own room. The time when they could crawl she would put them on the ground and let them cradle into the room the wanted. Prue and Piper had chosen the same room. But Phoebe went further down the hall. ‘She was exploring’ her mother had said. Prue shrugged it off.

She opened Phoebe’s door. Her room was messy. Toys were scattered everywhere. crayons and coloring books were on the little table their dad her made her when she was little, clothes were all over the floor and her bed was covered in stuffed animals. Prue gave a frustrated sigh. But smiled when she saw Phoebe buried under all of her animals, sleeping quietly under her comforter. She pulled the comforter up a little more and kissed her on the forehead. Phoebe stirred.

“Prue?” she said her big brown eyes still tired.

“Go back to sleep, baby.” Phoebe went back to sleep without a fight.

Prue went down the stairs and into the kitchen. She fixed herself some homemade hot chocolate. She went outside onto the step and sat there. Watching, observing everything. Then her thoughts were interrupted when she saw the paper boy riding down the street. He stopped at her house when he saw Prue. He got off of his bike and brought the paper up.

“Hi, Prue,” he said.

“Hey, Andy.”

“Tell Piper and Phoebe they did a good job.”

Prue looked at him.

“Okay. I guess. See you Prue!” he yelled as he ran down the steps.

Prue watched him ride away. She set her mug down and was about to open the paper when the door opened behind her. She looked. Phoebe stood there. Her braided shoulder length hair was a mess. Her little blue flannel pajama pants with little footies on the bottom and her matching shirt looked so cute on her. Her eyes were squinting because of the sun.

“Hey you. Come here.” Prue could see that she was still tired. She pulled her into her lap. “Let’s see what’s on the paper today.”

Prue opened the paper. In big black letters it said ‘ANONYMOUS’ AWARDS SENT BY KIDS TO ALL WAR VETERANS. Prue skipped down to the article. It said the senders may not want to be known, but one of these little tikes put a special note on the letter to Edgar Wyatt. “I’m sure they’re helping others, Eddie.” it said. It was marked Pi. and Ph. Halliwell. These awards these girls sent out said “We admire you for your bravery and strength to live through the war. We hope this at least brightens part of your life and makes you feel a at least a little proud of yourself for being left to spread your courage and strength to others.” . . . . . .

Prue looked at Phoebe. She gave her a hug.

“What was that for?”

“For being the loving person you are.” Prue smiled. “Everyone in San Francisco thanks you Phoebe. Look, you and Piper got on the front page of the paper. And look . . . . .”


Prue went on telling Phoebe of how wonderful the thing she and Piper did. And that they should be proud. Even though they wanted it to be anonymous it’s good that now everyone knows.


THE END